I ask Parliament to strengthen Planning Laws and require any organisation wanting to end use of a Listed asset to provide valid Planning reasons to the Planning Authority if they wish to end the function of a Listed asset.

This would help ensure that private companies cannot close heritage listed assets such as the Scenic Railway in Margate unless the local planning authority also supports this action. What is happening in Margate is, we feel, an example of why we need better Planning protections for Listed structures.